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Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [277r] (554/1144)
The record is made up of 1 file (570 folios). It was created in 21 Dec 1932-5 Mar 1948. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
r
5
some extent, but there is some truth in it, and it is unlikely that His Majesty s
Government would of their own accord ever wish actively to promote am
encourage pan-Arab ideas, even if the attitude of the French Government lelt
them free to do so, and even if their relations with the various Arab rulers were
f such a kind that they could support a policy which seemed to favour one among
em without causing offence to the others.
21. At the same time, as has been said in earlier paragraphs, there is
nothing inherently permanent about most of the existing boundaries of the various
Arab countries, while pan-Arabism is a phenomenon in the politics of the Middle
East which has probably come to stay. This being so, any attempt to oppose the
idea which it embodies, as opposed to any particular manifestation of that idea,
or to treat it with open lack of sympathy, would be not only ineffective, but
extremely unwise. His Majesty’s Government have therefore taken the line, when
the question has been discussed in the past, that, while they would be unwilling
to take any initiative and think that this initiative should, and must, come from
the Arabs themselves, they would, if the point were to arise, endeavour to avoid
displaying active opposition or open lack of sympathy, and would instead
endeavour to guide the movement along lines which should ensure that the
ensuing federation or union was friendly to Great Britain, these views have
been expressed to the French Government on more than one occasion and they
probably represent the least, and also the most, that His Majesty’s Government
can decide or do for the moment.
22. This memorandum is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of
the different forms which Arab union might take and somewhat vague terms have
therefore purposely been used. But union can naturally take many forms, from
alliances to complete amalgamations under a single administration. Iraq,
Saudi Arabia and the Yemen are already parties to a Treaty of Arab Brotherhood
and Alliance, which is not, in point of fact, an alliance in the true sense of the
word, but a consultation pact. So far, this treaty represents almost the only step
taken by the Arabs towards the realisation of pan-Arab ideas. So far as is known,
no attempt has yet been made to give effect even to the limited obligations
assumed under this treaty. It is not, therefore, a very long step, but it may prove
the beginning of a long march.
23. In conclusion, some reference must be made to the interest which the
Zionist leaders take in the question of Arab federation. It has often been
suggested to His Majesty’s Government by these leaders and their sympathisers,
as well as by other persons of no marked Zionist sympathies who, nevertheless,
wish to find a solution of the Palestine problem, that an effort should be made to
promote the union of Palestine and
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
with Iraq, or Syria, or both,
because the Arabs of this larger State would have less objection to the
immigration of Jews than the Arabs of Palestine alone; and the inducement
held out to His Majesty’s Government to make this effort is that they would be
laying up for themselves treasure in Heaven by earning the lasting friendship
and gratitude of the Arabs.
24. It is conceivable that His Majesty’s Government might be able to win
the friendship and gratitude of the Arabs in this way. But it is unlikely that
any assistance given by His Majesty’s Government and the French Government
to the union of the Arab States would lead the Arabs generally to agree to any
really substantial increase of Jewish immigration either into Palestine or into
the Arab area as a whole.
25. It is also possible that continued German or other propaganda in favour
of pan-Arabism may lead to pressure being put on His Majesty's Government
to declare themselves in the same sense.
26. It is hoped, however, that enough has been said in this memorandum to
show that a spontaneous attempt by His Majesty’s Government to promote Arab
federation, from whatever motives, would be a very risky experiment, from the
point of their relations with the existing Arab countries, as well as their
relations with France and possibly Turkey; and that a positive declaration on
the subject should be avoided as long as possible. Changes in the Arab world
are doubtless bound to come, possibly changes in the direction of closer union.
The present Middle Eastern edifice is slightly ramshackle and His Majesty’s
Government may sooner or later have to help in repairing it. But it will be
better for them to wait until the play of natural forces has shown how their
About this item
- Content
This file concerns the British Government's response to the Pan-Arab movement during the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the correspondence refers to the prospect of an Arab federation, although the use of the word 'federation' is noted in some of the correspondence as being a mistranslation of the original Arabic expression, which would be more accurately represented by the words 'unification' or 'unity'.
Significant subjects of discussion include:
- Arab party politics in Palestine.
- Iraqi-Egyptian relations.
- Italian propaganda in the Middle East.
- The future of Palestine.
- Britain's post-war policy in the Middle East.
- Whether the Arab states should be induced to make a wartime declaration in favour of the democracies (i.e. the Allies).
- The formation of the Arab League (also referred to as the Arab Federation in the correspondence).
- Details of the Pact (also referred to as Covenant) of the Arab League, signed in Cairo on 22 March 1945.
- Whether representatives of the Arab League should be present at the Palestine Conference in London, in 1947, in addition to representatives of Arab states.
Notable correspondents include the following: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the High Commissioner for Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad; the High Commissioner for Egypt; His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo; the High Commissioner for Palestine; His Majesty's Minister at Jedda; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the Minister of State in the Middle East; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , the Commonwealth Relations Office, and the Indian Political Service The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. 's External Affairs Department; Noury Said [Nūrī al-Sa‘īd], Prime Minister of Iraq; George Antonius, Lebanese-Egyptian author and diplomat.
Also included with the correspondence are the following:
- Extracts from Palestine police summaries dating from 1933 to 1936, produced by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jerusalem.
- A printed copy of a paper on Arab federation by the Foreign Research and Press Service, dated 20 June 1941.
- Copies of documents produced by the War Cabinet's Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East (also referred to as the Middle East (Official) Committee), including minutes of meetings (1941-1942) and a copy of a report on Arab Federation, dated January 1942.
- A copy (in French) of the Protocol of the Preparatory Committee for the Arab Congress, dated 7 October 1944.
- Copies of the Pact/Covenant of the recently formed Arab League (consisting of a printed copy in French, distributed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an English translation of the full Arabic text, which includes a passage that was omitted from the French version).
The French material consists of the aforementioned Protocol and Arab League Pact, plus one item of correspondence and a copy of a newspaper extract.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folios 2-3).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (570 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 571; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two previous foliation sequences, which are also circled, have been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [277r] (554/1144), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2110, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047229911.0x00009d> [accessed 16 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2110
- Title
- Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 9r:24v, 27r:59v, 61r:62v, 73r:78v, 82r:93v, 95r:103v, 105r:106v, 111r:111v, 113r:115v, 118r:120v, 122r:132v, 134r:152v, 158r:199v, 201r:265v, 273r:354v, 356r:381v, 384r:394v, 398r:407v, 410r:516v, 518r:565v, 567r:571v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence